My friends Jake and Jack and I decided to go back into the Kootenays for another ski trip that
was also a work trip. We had the pleasure of skiing Red and Whitewater again this year.

Skiing at Red Mountain

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While Jake and I struggled to make it through the Kootenays from Calgary (via a last minute ferry crossing)
Jack drove the whole way from Vancouver on his own. Here is Jack enjoying the forethought that we had to
plan a ski trip on a weekend that got 25 cm+ of fresh snow. Look at this smile!

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Jack and Jake and untracked powder at Red Mountain. See the blue sky above us. The upper Mother Lode chair
had been closed the previous day so we were going to be skiing some untouched great stuff.

Video of Jack skiing in Paradise

Video of Jake skiing in Paradise (a little long)

Video of Jake skiing in Paradise again

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We managed to be some of the first into the Paradise side of Red Mountain and the snow was just that - Paradise.
Here is Jake agreeing with my assessment.

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Red Mountain started a small cat operation with a piston bully this year. The goal is to make sure that the
ski patrollers have a chance to better understand Grey mountain, since they plan on adding a lift next year.
Jake and I are very excited to have a chance to try the cat and we're waiting here for our turn. $10!

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This was the sign next to where we waited for the cat to pick us up. We waited about 30 minutes and we were
the last people on this cat.

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Jake and Jack hanging out as we're waiting for the cat to pick us up.

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Jake's comment was that "Paul isn't concerned with my personal safety" so when I suggested us taking the cat, he got
a little afraid. Here's his 'afraid' look.

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Jack and Jake about to jump into a Piston Bully. I wound up in the front of the cab of the cat since I noticed
that the dude running the cat was from Tugaske, SK. I made a comment about Eyebrow being a better town and voila!

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Jake and Jack getting a look at the fresh stuff we're going to ski on Grey Mountain.

Skiing Whitewater in the backcountry

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Our 2nd day, I decided to join a backcountry tour with the legendary Greg Hill
of 2-million-vertical-feet-in-a-year fame. This is a great sign at the lodge at Whitewater.

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I took this photo for my friend Rowley who has outfitted his F-150 with a sweet hotel kit. Rowley, this is
a little higher end than yours, courtesy of the boys from Outdoor Research.

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This weekend was the Kootenay Coldsmoke Powderfest, and since festivals attract goofballs, this one was no different.

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Jack found these 140mm skis at one of the gear tents. This is from a company called Liberty.

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So, I departed from the boys and joined Greg, Shaun (guide), Matt, Logan, and Ryan, and we made our way out-of-bounds
towards the 5 mile creek drainage. Here's Greg checking in as we were leaving the resort.

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We gained the ridge above the resort and headed up a little higher. The area was more than a little wind-hammered
as these trees tell us. We did a mix of boot-packing and tough skinning to make our way up.

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Logan and his buddy Matt are now living in Golden and ski-touring when they're not working.

A video look around in the storm

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After doing some snow-pit digging, we decided to play it safe and follow safe terrain into this drainage. Here
is Greg just about to drop in near the larch forest.